Patent application title: MULTI-CAMERA ENDOSCOPE

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Abstract:

There is provided herein a tip section of a multi-camera endoscope, the
tip section comprising: two or more side-pointing cameras positioned at
or in proximity to a distal end of said tip section, wherein each of said
two or more side-pointing cameras having a discrete illuminator
associated therewith, wherein the field of view provided by the two or
more side-pointing cameras covers a front and side views; a working
channel configured for insertion of a surgical tool; and a pathway fluid
injector for inflating and/or cleaning a body cavity into which the
endoscope is inserted.

Claims:

1. A tip section of a multi-camera endoscope, the tip section comprising:
two or more side-pointing cameras positioned at or in proximity to a
distal end of said tip section, wherein each of said two or more
side-pointing cameras having a discrete illuminator associated therewith,
wherein the field of view provided by said two or more side-pointing
cameras covers a front and side views; a working channel configured for
insertion of a surgical tool; and a pathway fluid injector for inflating
and/or cleaning a body cavity into which the endoscope is inserted.

2. The tip section according to claim 1, further comprising two or more
side fluid injectors configured for cleaning said two or more
side-pointing cameras and/or said discrete side illuminators.

3. The tip section according to claim 1, wherein said two or more
side-pointing cameras are pointing at directions essentially opposing to
one another.

4. The tip section according to claim 1, comprising three or more
side-pointing cameras positioned essentially at equal distances from each
other along the perimeter of said tip section.

5. The tip section according to claim 1, wherein each of said
illuminators comprises a light-emitting diode (LED).

6. A tip section of a multi-camera endoscope, the tip section comprising:
a front-pointing camera and a discrete front illuminator associated
therewith; a front fluid injector configured for cleaning at least one of
said front-pointing camera and said discrete front illuminator; a
side-pointing camera; a working channel configured for insertion of a
surgical tool; and a pathway fluid injector for inflating and/or cleaning
a body cavity into which the endoscope is inserted.

7. The tip section according to claim 6, further comprising a discrete
side illuminator associated with side-pointing camera.

8. The tip section according to claim 6, further comprising a side fluid
injector configured for cleaning said side-pointing camera and/or said
discrete side illuminator.

9. The tip section according to claim 6, wherein said front-pointing
camera and said side-pointing camera are pointing at directions
essentially perpendicular to one another.

10. The Tip section according to claim 6, wherein said front-pointing
camera and said side-pointing camera are pointing approximately 100 to
145 degrees relative to one another.

11. The Tip section according to claim 6, wherein each of said discrete
front and side illuminators comprises a light-emitting diode (LED).

12. A multi-camera endoscope comprising: an elongated shaft terminating
with a tip section turnable by way of a bending section, wherein said tip
section comprises: two or more side-pointing cameras positioned at or in
proximity to a distal end of said tip section, wherein each of said two
or more side-pointing cameras having a discrete illuminator associated
therewith, wherein the field of view provided by said two or more
side-pointing cameras covers a front and side views; a working channel
configured for insertion of a surgical tool; and a pathway fluid injector
for inflating and/or cleaning a body cavity into which the endoscope is
inserted.

13. The multi-camera endoscope according to claim 12, wherein said tip
section further comprising two or more side fluid injectors configured
for cleaning said two or more side-pointing cameras and/or said discrete
side illuminators.

14. The multi-camera endoscope according to claim 12, wherein said two or
more side-pointing cameras are pointing at directions essentially
opposing to one another.

15. The tip section according to claim 12, wherein said tip section
comprises three or more side-pointing cameras positioned essentially at
equal distances from each other along the perimeter of said tip section.

16. A multi-camera endoscope comprising: an elongated shaft terminating
with a tip section turnable by way of a bending section, wherein said tip
section comprises: a front-pointing camera and a discrete front
illuminator associated therewith; a front fluid injector configured for
cleaning at least one of said front-pointing camera and said discrete
front illuminator; a side-pointing camera; a working channel configured
for insertion of a surgical tool; and a pathway fluid injector for
inflating and/or cleaning a body cavity into which the endoscope is
inserted.

17. The multi-camera endoscope according to claim 16, wherein said tip
section further comprising a discrete side illuminator associated with
side-pointing camera.

18. The multi-camera endoscope according to claim 16, wherein said tip
section further comprising a side fluid injector configured for cleaning
said side-pointing camera and/or said discrete side illuminator.

Description:

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001] This application is a continuation-in-part (CIP) of U.S. patent
application Ser. No. 13/119,032, filed Jul. 15, 2011 which is a national
phase application with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office of
International Patent Application No. PCT/IL2010/000476, filed Jun. 16,
2010, which claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No.
61/218,085, filed Jun. 18, 2009 and entitled "Endoscope Having Multiple
Fields of View", which are incorporated herein by reference in their
entirety.

FIELD

[0002] Embodiments of the disclosure relate to a multi-camera endoscope.

BACKGROUND

[0003] Endoscopes have attained great acceptance within the medical
community, since they provide a means for performing procedures with
minimal patient trauma, while enabling the physician to view the internal
anatomy of the patient. Over the years, numerous endoscopes have been
developed and categorized according to specific applications, such as
cystoscopy, colonoscopy, laparoscopy, upper GI endoscopy and others.
Endoscopes may be inserted into the body's natural orifices or through an
incision in the skin.

[0004] An endoscope is usually an elongated tubular shaft, rigid or
flexible, having a video camera or a fiber optic lens assembly at its
distal end. The shaft is connected to a handle, which sometimes includes
an ocular for direct viewing. Viewing is also usually possible via an
external screen. Various surgical tools may be inserted through a working
channel in the endoscope for performing different surgical procedures.

[0005] The foregoing examples of the related art and limitations related
therewith are intended to be illustrative and not exclusive. Other
limitations of the related art will become apparent to those of skill in
the art upon a reading of the specification and a study of the figures.

SUMMARY

[0006] The following embodiments and aspects thereof are described and
illustrated in conjunction with systems, tools and methods which are
meant to be exemplary and illustrative, not limiting in scope.

[0007] There is provided, according to some embodiments, a tip section of
a multi-camera endoscope, the tip section comprising: two or more
side-pointing cameras positioned at or in proximity to a distal end of
said tip section, wherein the field of view provided by said two or more
side-pointing cameras covers a front and side views; one or more discrete
illuminator; a working channel configured for insertion of a surgical
tool; and a pathway fluid injector for inflating and/or cleaning a body
cavity into which the endoscope is inserted.

[0008] There is provided, according to some embodiments, a multi-camera
endoscope comprising: an elongated shaft terminating with a tip section
turnable by way of a bending section, wherein said tip section comprises:
two or more side-pointing cameras positioned at or in proximity to a
distal end of said tip section, wherein the field of view provided by
said two or more side-pointing cameras covers a front and side views; one
or more discrete illuminator; a working channel configured for insertion
of a surgical tool; and a pathway fluid injector for inflating and/or
cleaning a body cavity into which the endoscope is inserted.

[0009] There is provided, according to some embodiments, a tip section of
a multi-camera endoscope, the tip section comprising: two or more
side-pointing cameras positioned at or in proximity to a distal end of
said tip section, wherein each of said two or more side-pointing cameras
having a discrete illuminator associated therewith, wherein the field of
view provided by said two or more side-pointing cameras covers a front
and side views; a working channel configured for insertion of a surgical
tool; and a pathway fluid injector for inflating and/or cleaning a body
cavity into which the endoscope is inserted.

[0010] There is provided, according to some embodiments, a multi-camera
endoscope comprising: an elongated shaft terminating with a tip section
turnable by way of a bending section, wherein said tip section comprises:
two or more side-pointing cameras positioned at or in proximity to a
distal end of said tip section, wherein each of said two or more
side-pointing cameras having a discrete illuminator associated therewith,
wherein the field of view provided by said two or more side-pointing
cameras covers a front and side views; a working channel configured for
insertion of a surgical tool; and a pathway fluid injector for inflating
and/or cleaning a body cavity into which the endoscope is inserted.

[0011] The tip section may further include two or more side fluid
injectors configured for cleaning said two or more side-pointing cameras
and/or said discrete side illuminators. The two or more side-pointing
cameras may point at directions essentially opposing to one another. The
tip section may include three or more side-pointing cameras. According to
some embodiments, the three or more side-pointing cameras may be
positioned essentially at equal distances from each other along the
perimeter of said tip section.

[0012] There is provided, according to some embodiments, a tip section of
a multi-camera endoscope, the tip section comprising: a front-pointing
camera and a discrete front illuminator associated therewith; a front
fluid injector configured for cleaning at least one of said
front-pointing camera and said discrete front illuminator; a
side-pointing camera; a working channel configured for insertion of a
surgical tool; and a pathway fluid injector for inflating and/or cleaning
a body cavity into which the endoscope is inserted.

[0013] There is provided, according to some embodiments, a multi-camera
endoscope comprising: an elongated shaft terminating with a tip section
turnable by way of a bending section, wherein said tip section comprises:
two or more side-pointing cameras positioned at or in proximity to a
distal end of said tip section, wherein each of said two or more
side-pointing cameras having a discrete illuminator associated therewith,
wherein the field of view provided by said two or more side-pointing
cameras covers a front and side views; a working channel configured for
insertion of a surgical tool; and a pathway fluid injector for inflating
and/or cleaning a body cavity into which the endoscope is inserted. The
tip section may further include a discrete side illuminator associated
with side-pointing camera. The tip section may further include a side
fluid injector configured for cleaning said side-pointing camera and/or
said discrete side illuminator.

[0014] There is provided, according to an embodiment, a multi-camera
endoscope comprising: an elongated shaft terminating with a tip section
turnable by way of a bending section, wherein said tip section comprises:
a front-pointing camera and a discrete front illuminator associated
therewith; a front fluid injector configured for cleaning at least one of
said front-pointing camera and said discrete front illuminator; a
side-pointing camera and a discrete side illuminator associated
therewith; a side fluid injector configured for cleaning at least one of
said side-pointing camera and said discrete side illuminator; a working
channel configured for insertion of a surgical tool; and a pathway fluid
injector for inflating and/or cleaning a body cavity into which the
endoscope is inserted.

[0015] There is further provided, according to an embodiment, a
multi-camera endoscopy system comprising: an endoscope comprising a
handle and an elongated shaft terminating with a tip section turnable by
way of a bending section, wherein said tip section comprises: a
front-pointing camera and a discrete front illuminator associated
therewith, a front fluid injector configured for cleaning at least one of
said front-pointing camera and said discrete front illuminator, a
side-pointing camera and a discrete side illuminator associated
therewith, a side fluid injector configured for cleaning at least one of
said side-pointing camera and said discrete side illuminator, a working
channel configured for insertion of a surgical tool, and a pathway fluid
injector for inflating and/or cleaning a body cavity into which the
endoscope is inserted; a controller connected to said handle of said
endoscope by way of a utility cable; and a display connected to said
controller and configured to display video streams received from said
front and side-pointing cameras.

[0016] In some embodiments, said front-pointing camera and said
side-pointing camera are pointing at directions essentially perpendicular
to one another.

[0017] In some embodiments, said front-pointing camera and said
side-pointing camera are pointing approximately 100 to 145 degrees
relative to one another.

[0018] In some embodiments, a center of said side-pointing camera is
positioned approximately 7 to 11 millimeters from a distal end of said
tip section.

[0019] In some embodiments, each of said discrete front and side
illuminators comprises a light-emitting diode (LED).

[0020] In some embodiments, at least one of said discrete front and side
illuminators is configured to emit white light.

[0021] In some embodiments, at least one of said discrete front and side
illuminators is configured to emit ultraviolet light.

[0022] In some embodiments, at least one of said discrete front and side
illuminators is configured to emit infrared light.

[0023] In some embodiments, at least one of said discrete front and side
illuminators is configured to emit near-infrared light.

[0024] In some embodiments, said discrete front and side illuminators are
configured to emit light in different wavelengths.

[0025] In some embodiments, said tip section further comprises an
additional discrete front illuminator configured to emit light having a
different wavelength than said discrete front illuminator.

[0026] In some embodiments, said additional discrete front illuminator and
said discrete front illuminator are configured to simultaneously emit
light, each at a different wavelength.

[0027] In some embodiments, said tip section further comprises an
additional discrete side illuminator configured to emit light having a
different wavelength than said discrete side illuminator.

[0028] In some embodiments, said additional discrete side illuminator and
said discrete side illuminator are configured to simultaneously emit
light, each at a different wavelength.

[0029] In some embodiments, each of said front-pointing camera and said
side-pointing camera comprises a Charge Coupled Device (CCD) or a
Complementary Metal Oxide Semiconductor (CMOS) image sensor.

[0030] In some embodiments, said front and side fluid injectors are
connected to a same fluid supply channel.

[0031] In some embodiments, said pathway fluid injector is connected to
said fluid supply channel, together with said front and side fluid
injectors.

[0032] In some embodiments, at least one of said front and side-pointing
cameras comprises a lens assembly providing a field of view of 90 degrees
or more.

[0033] In some embodiments, at least one of said front and side-pointing
cameras comprises a lens assembly providing a field of view of 120
degrees or more.

[0034] In some embodiments, at least one of said front and side-pointing
cameras comprises a lens assembly providing a field of view of 150
degrees or more.

[0035] In some embodiments, said front-pointing camera comprises a lens
assembly providing a focal length of approximately 3-100 millimeters.

[0036] In some embodiments, said side-pointing camera comprises a lens
assembly providing a focal length of approximately 2-33 millimeters.

[0037] In some embodiments, said tip section further comprises an opposite
side-pointing camera pointing at a direction essentially opposite to said
side-pointing camera.

[0038] In some embodiments, said tip section further comprises a
perpendicular side-pointing camera pointing at a direction essentially
perpendicular to said side-pointing camera.

[0039] In some embodiments, said endoscope is a colonoscope.

[0040] In some embodiments, fields of view of said front-pointing camera
and side-pointing camera are at least partially overlapping, such that an
object of interest viewed via said side-pointing camera remains in the
field of view of said side-pointing camera while said tip section is
being turned towards the object, and at least until the object becomes
visible through said front-pointing camera.

[0041] In some embodiments, said utility cable comprises: a fluid channel
for providing a fluid to at least one of said injectors; a data cable for
receiving video signals from said front and side-pointing cameras; and a
power cable for providing electrical power to said front and
side-pointing cameras and to said discrete front and side illuminators.

[0042] In some embodiments, said controller is configured to process and
combine video signals received from said front and side-pointing cameras
into a single panoramic video view.

[0043] In addition to the exemplary aspects and embodiments described
above, further aspects and embodiments will become apparent by reference
to the figures and by study of the following detailed description.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

[0044] Exemplary embodiments are illustrated in referenced figures.
Dimensions of components and features shown in the figures are generally
chosen for convenience and clarity of presentation and are not
necessarily shown to scale. It is intended that the embodiments and
figures disclosed herein are to be considered illustrative rather than
restrictive. The figures are listed below:

[0045] FIG. 1 shows a cross sectional view of a prior art endoscope;

[0046] FIG. 2 shows a cross section of a multi-camera endoscope, according
to some embodiments;

[0047]FIG. 3 shows a perspective view of a multi-camera endoscope,
according to some embodiments;

[0048] FIG. 4 shows a cross-sectional view of a bending section of a
multi-camera endoscope, according to some embodiments;

[0049] FIG. 5 shows a cross-sectional view of a tip section of a
multi-camera endoscope, according to some embodiments;

[0050] FIG. 6 shows a semi-pictorial view of a multi-camera endoscopy
system, according to some embodiments;

[0051] FIGS. 7A-D show perspective views of multiple tip section
configurations, according to some embodiments;.

[0052]FIG. 8 shows a perspective view of a multi-camera endoscope,
according to some embodiments; and

[0053]FIG. 9 shows a perspective view of a multi-camera endoscope,
according to some embodiments.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0054] An aspect of some embodiments relates to an endoscope having a tip
section equipped with two or more cameras. According to one embodiment,
one of the cameras is positioned at a distal end of the tip section and
points forward, and the remaining camera(s) is positioned further back in
the tip section, and points sideways.

[0055] According to another embodiment, one of the cameras is positioned
at a distal (front) end surface of the tip section and points forward,
and the remaining camera(s) is positioned further back in the tip
section, and points sideways.

[0056] According to another embodiment, two or more cameras (for example,
three, four or more) are positioned in proximity to or at the distal end
of the tip section and point sideways such that the field of view
provided by the cameras covers a front and side views. Even though in
such configuration, according to some embodiments, no camera is
positioned at the distal (front) end surface of the tip section (or in
other words, no camera is pointing directly forward), still the field of
view of the side cameras allows view of the front direction of the tip
and accordingly of the endoscope.

[0057] This configuration, advantageously, may allow for a higher rate of
detection, compared to conventional configurations, of pathological
objects that exist in the body cavity in which the endoscope operates.

[0058] The cameras and optionally other elements that exist in the tip
section (such as a light source, a working channel, a fluid injector
and/or the like) are uniquely scaled, configured and packaged so that
they fit within the minimalistic space available inside the tip section,
while still providing valuable results.

[0059] Reference is now made to FIG. 1, which shows a cross sectional view
of a prior art endoscope, in this example a colonoscope 100, used within
a colon 120 of a patient. The human colon includes a series of annular
muscles which appear in this figure as folds 122 protruding from an inner
surface 124 of the colon.

[0060] Endoscope 100 includes a front-pointing camera 104 positioned at a
distal end 102 of the colonoscope. Camera 104 typically has a wide field
of view 106. When endoscope 100 is used within a body cavity such as
colon 120, the operator advances the endoscope 100 while viewing images
(commonly a video feed) transmitted by camera 104. When a polyp, such as
polyp 110 or 112 is discovered on a wall of colon 120, the operator may
insert a surgical tool (not shown) through a working channel 105 to
remove, treat and/or extract a sample of the polyp or its entirety for
biopsy.

[0061] However, in some cases, a polyp, such as polyp 114 may be located
on an inner side of a fold 126, such that it is hidden from the field of
view 106 of camera 104. This phenomena is said to greatly contribute to
the common statistics, according to which as many as 12-24% of polyps are
missed during colonoscopy. Missing polyps, or a "false negative"
diagnosis, may result in late discovery of cancer.

[0062] Reference is now made to FIG. 2, which shows a cross section of a
multi-camera endoscope 200, according to an embodiment. Endoscope 200 may
include an elongated shaft 203 (not fully shown) terminating with a tip
section 202 which is turnable by way of a bending section 204.
Advantageously, tip section may include a front-pointing camera 206 as
well as a side-pointing camera 210. While front-pointing camera 206 may
be able to detect, based on its field of view 208, polyps such as polyps
218 and 220, side-pointing camera 210 may be further able to detect
polyps which are normally hidden from the front-pointing camera, such as
polyp 216. By rotating endoscope 200 around its longitude, side-pointing
camera 210 may detect polyps circumferentially, 360 degrees around the
endoscope. This may enable the detection of polyps such as a polyp 222,
which is, similar to polyp 216, located on an inner side of a fold. In
other configurations (not shown), two or more side-pointing cameras may
exist in the tip section, each having a different (or an overlapping, to
some degree) field of view.

[0063] Advantageously, the fields of view of front-pointing camera 206 and
side-pointing camera 210 are at least partially overlapping, such that an
object of interest (such as a polyp or another pathology) viewed via the
side-pointing camera remains in the field of view of this camera while
the tip section is being turned towards the object, and at least until
the object becomes visible through the front-pointing camera. This may be
beneficial when a polyp is discovered by side-pointing camera 210, and
the operator desires to perform a surgical operation on that polyp using
a surgical tool inserted through a working channel (not shown in the
figure) which has an opening in a distal end surface of tip section 202,
next to front-pointing camera 206. For performing the surgical operation,
tip section 202 may need to be turned towards the polyp. It may greatly
assist the operator if the fields of view of front-pointing camera 206
and side-pointing camera 210 have some overlap, so that the polyp remains
in sight throughout the turning of the tip section and the operator does
not get disoriented.

[0064] Reference is now made to FIG. 3, which shows a perspective view of
a multi-camera endoscope 300 in more detail, according to an embodiment.
Endoscope 300 may include an elongated shaft (not shown), a bending
section (partially shown) 302 and a tip section 304 which terminates the
endoscope.

[0065] Bending section 302 may include a plurality of links, such as links
302a-c, which enable the turning of tip section 304 in different
directions. In a different configuration (not shown), a bending section
may be constructed differently, as long as it enables the turning of the
tip section in different directions. Bending section 302 may be covered
with an elastic sheath (not shown), which may also extend to cover the
elongated shaft.

[0066] Tip section 304 may include therein a front-pointing camera 304
which may capture images through a hole in a distal end surface 306 of
the tip section. A discrete front illuminator 308, which is optionally a
light-emitting diode (LED), may be associated with front-pointing camera
304 and used for illuminating its field of view through another hole in
distal end surface 306. The LED may be a while light LED, an infrared
light LED, a near infrared light LED or an ultraviolet light LED. The
term "discrete", in regard to front illuminator 308, may refer to an
illumination source which generates light internally--in contrast to a
non-discrete illuminator which may be, for example, a fiber optic merely
transmitting light generated remotely. In a different configuration (not
shown), two or more discrete front illuminators may be present in the tip
section, such as for supplying overall stronger illumination and/or for
increasing the angular coverage of the illumination. These two or more
discrete front illuminators may be located next to one another so that
they share a same protective window on the distal end surface of the tip
section.

[0067] A front fluid injector 310 may be used for cleaning at least one of
front-pointing camera 304 and discrete front illuminator 308. Front fluid
injector 310 may be slightly elevated from distal end surface 306, to
enable it to inject fluid, from its side 310a, onto front-pointing camera
304 and discrete front illuminator 308. Front fluid injector 310 may be
configured to inject fluids such as water, air and/or the like.

[0068] Distal end surface 306 may further include a hole defining a
working channel 312. Working channel 312 may be a hollow tube configured
for insertion of a surgical tool to operate on various tissues. For
example, miniature forceps may be inserted through working channel 312 in
order to remove a polyp or sample of which for biopsy.

[0069] A pathway fluid injector 314, defined by another hole in distal end
surface 306, may be used for inflating and/or cleaning the body cavity
into which endoscope 300 is inserted. Inflation may be performed by
flowing air or another gas through pathway fluid injector 314, and may be
beneficial for cases in which the body cavity, such as the colon, is
shriveled or otherwise does not allow for efficient inspection. Cleaning
may be achieved, for example, by injecting a liquid, such as water or
saline, on an unclean area of the body cavity. Furthermore, pathway fluid
injector 314 (or a different tube, not shown) may be used for applying
suction, in order to evacuate various liquids and/or solids which exist
in the body cavity and interfere with the inspection.

[0070] Tip section 304 may further include therein a side-pointing camera
316 which may capture images through a hole in a cylindrical surface 305
of the tip section. A discrete side illuminator 322, which is optionally
similar to discrete front illuminator 308, may be associated with
front-pointing camera 304 and used for illuminating its field of view
through another hole in cylindrical surface 305. In a different
configuration (not shown), two or more discrete side illuminators may be
present in the tip section, such as for supplying overall stronger
illumination and/or for increasing the angular coverage of the
illumination. These two or more discrete side illuminators may be located
next to one another so that they share a same protective window on the
cylindrical surface of the tip section.

[0071] A side fluid injector 320 may be used for cleaning at least one of
side-pointing camera 304 and discrete side illuminator 322. In order to
prevent tissue damage when cylindrical surface 305 of tip section 304
contacts a side wall of the body cavity, side fluid injector 320 and
side-pointing camera 316 may be located in a depression 318 in the
cylindrical surface. This way, side fluid injector 320 may be elevated
from depression 318 but still not significantly protrude from the level
of cylindrical surface 305. The elevation of side fluid injector 320 may
enable it to inject fluid, from its side 320a, onto side-pointing camera
316. In an alternative configuration (not shown), one or more discrete
side illuminators may also be included in the depression, so that fluid
injected from the side fluid injector may reach them. In yet another
configuration (not shown), a side-pointing camera, one or more side
illuminators and a side fluid injector may not be located in a
depression, but rather be on essentially the same level as the
cylindrical surface of the tip section.

[0072] Reference is now made to FIG. 4, which shows a cross-sectional view
of a bending section 400 of a multi-camera endoscope, such as
multi-camera endoscope 300 of FIG. 3. A plurality of steering cable eyes,
such as four eyes 408, are positioned on the internal walls of bending
section 400. Through these eyes 408, steering cables are threaded, to
enable the maneuvering of bending section 400. Bending section 400 may
also include a working channel 402, through which surgical tools may be
inserted, a fluid channel 406, through which fluids and/or liquids may be
infused, and an electrical channel 404, through which a plurality of
electrical cables may be threaded, for transmitting video signals from
the cameras and for supplying power to the cameras and the discrete
illuminators.

[0073] For simplicity of presentation, FIG. 4 only shows a single working
channel 402, although in a different configuration (not shown), more than
one working channel may exist, to enable the insertion of multiple
surgical tools simultaneously. Similarly, only one fluid channel 406 is
shown, although in a different configuration (not shown) more than one
fluid channel may be used, such as for separately feeding at least one of
a front fluid injector, a side fluid injector and/or a pathway fluid
injector, as well as for separately providing suction through the pathway
fluid injector. Additionally, FIG. 4 shows only a single electrical
channel 404, but in other configurations (not shown), one or more of the
electrical cables threaded through the elongated shaft and/or the bending
section may be separated into a plurality of tubes, for example in order
to distance cables causing magnetic induction from cables which may be
influenced by this phenomena.

[0074] Reference is now made to FIG. 5, which shows a cross-sectional view
of a tip section 500 of a multi-camera endoscope, according to an
embodiment. Tip section 500 may include a front-pointing image sensor
502, such as Charge Coupled Device (CCD) or a Complementary Metal Oxide
Semiconductor (CMOS) image sensor. Front-pointing image sensor 502 may be
mounted on an integrated circuit board 506, which may be rigid or
flexible. Integrated circuit board 506 may supply front-pointing image
sensor 502 with the necessary electrical power, and may derive still
images and/or video feeds captured by the image sensor. Integrated
circuit board 506 may be connected to a set of electrical cables (not
shown) which may be threaded through an electrical channel running
through the elongated shaft of the endoscope. Front-pointing image sensor
502 may have a lens assembly 504 mounted on top of it and providing the
necessary optics for receiving images. Lens assembly 504 may include a
plurality of lenses, static or movable, which may provide a field of view
of at least 90 degrees and up to essentially 180 degrees. Lens assembly
504 may provide a focal length of about 3 to 100 millimeters.
Front-pointing image sensor 502 and lens assembly 504, with or without
integrated circuit board 506, may be jointly referred to as a "front
pointing camera".

[0075] One or more discrete front illuminators 508 may be placed next to
lens assembly 504, for illuminating its field of view. Optionally,
discrete front illuminators 508 may be attached to the same integrated
circuit board 506 on which front-pointing image sensor 502 is mounted
(this configuration is not shown).

[0076] Tip section 500 may include a side-pointing image sensor 512, such
as Charge Coupled Device (CCD) or a Complementary Metal Oxide
Semiconductor (CMOS) image sensor. Front-pointing image sensor 502 may be
mounted on an integrated circuit board 516, which may be rigid or
flexible. Integrated circuit board 516 may supply side-pointing image
sensor 512 with the necessary electrical power, and may derive still
images and/or video feeds captured by the image sensor. Integrated
circuit board 516 may be connected to a set of electrical cables (not
shown) which may be threaded through an electrical channel running
through the elongated shaft of the endoscope.

[0077] Side-pointing image sensor 512 may have a lens assembly 514 mounted
on top of it and providing the necessary optics for receiving images.
Lens assembly 514 may include a plurality of lenses, static or movable,
which may provide a field of view of at least 90 degrees and up to
essentially 180 degrees. Lens assembly 514 may provide a focal length of
about 2 to 33 millimeters. Side-pointing image sensor 512 and lens
assembly 514, with or without integrated circuit board 516, may be
jointly referred to as a "side pointing camera".

[0078] One or more discrete side illuminators 518 may be placed next to
lens assembly 514, for illuminating its field of view. Optionally,
discrete front illuminators 518 may be attached to the same integrated
circuit board 516 on which side-pointing image sensor 512 is mounted
(this configuration is not shown).

[0079] In another configuration (not shown), integrated circuit boards 506
and 516 may be a single integrated circuit board on which both front and
side-pointing image sensors 502 and 512 are mounted. For this purpose,
the integrated circuit board may be essentially L-shaped.

[0080] Front and side-pointing image sensors 502 and 512 may be similar or
identical in terms of, for example, field of view, resolution, light
sensitivity, pixel size, focal length, focal distance and/or the like.

[0081] Optionally, side-pointing image sensor 512 and lens assembly 514
are advantageously positioned relatively close to the distal end surface
of tip section 500. For example, a center of the side-pointing camera
(which is the center axis of side-pointing image sensor 512 and lens
assembly 514) is positioned approximately 7 to 11 millimeters from the
distal end of the tip section. This is enabled by an advantageous
miniaturizing of the front and side-pointing cameras, which allows for
enough internal space in the tip section for angular positioning of the
cameras without colliding.

[0082] Reference is now made to FIG. 6, which shows a semi-pictorial view
multi-camera endoscopy system 600. System 600 may include a multi-camera
endoscope 602, such as the endoscope of FIGS. 2, 3, 4 and/or 5.
Multi-camera endoscope 602 may include a handle 604, from which an
elongated shaft 606 emerges. Elongated shaft 606 terminates with a tip
section 608 which is turnable by way of a bending section 610. Handle 604
may be used for maneuvering elongated shaft 606 within a body cavity; the
handle may include one or more knobs and/or switches 605 which control
bending section 610 as well as functions such as fluid injection and
suction. Handle 604 may further include a working channel opening 612
through which surgical tools may be inserted.

[0083] A utility cable 614 may connect between handle 604 and a controller
616. Utility cable 614 may include therein one or more fluid channels and
one or more electrical channels. The electrical channel(s) may include at
least one data cable for receiving video signals from the front and
side-pointing cameras, as well as at least one power cable for providing
electrical power to the cameras and to the discrete illuminators.

[0084] Controller 616 may govern power transmission to the endoscope's 602
tip section 608, such as for the tip section's cameras and illuminators.
Controller 616 may further control one or more fluid, liquid and/or
suction pump which supply corresponding functionalities to endoscope 602.
One or more input devices, such as a keyboard 618, may be connected to
controller 616 for the purpose of human interaction with the controller.
In another configuration (not shown), an input device, such as a
keyboard, may be integrated with the controller in a same casing.

[0085] A display 620 may be connected to controller 616, and configured to
display images and/or video streams received from the cameras of
multi-camera endoscope 602. Display 620 may further be operative to
display a user interface for allowing a human operator to set various
features of system 600.

[0086] Optionally, the video streams received from the different cameras
of multi-camera endoscope 602 may be displayed separately on display 620,
either side-by-side or interchangeably (namely, the operator may switch
between views from the different cameras manually). Alternatively, these
video streams may be processed by controller 616 to combine them into a
single, panoramic video frame, based on an overlap between fields of view
of the cameras.

[0087] In another configuration (not shown), two or more displays may be
connected to controller 616, each for displaying a video stream from a
different camera of the multi-camera endoscope.

[0088] Reference is now made to FIGS. 7A-D, in which multiple
configurations 700, 720, 740 and 760 of a tip section are shown.

[0089] In configuration 700, a front-pointing camera 702 and a
side-pointing camera 704 are essentially perpendicular to one another,
and have, correspondingly, perpendicular fields of view.

[0090] In configuration 720, a front-pointing camera 722 is essentially
perpendicular to a first side-pointing camera 724 and a second
side-pointing camera 726. First and second side-pointing cameras 724-726
are pointing perpendicularly to one another, and are positioned
essentially 90 degrees apart in the cylindrical surface of the tip
section. In another configuration (not shown), a first and a second
side-pointing cameras may be positioned more than 90 degrees apart in the
cylindrical surface of the tip section, such as 120-150 degrees apart or
150-180 degrees apart. For example, the first and second side-pointing
cameras may be positioned in 180 degrees apart, in opposite sides of the
cylindrical surface of the tip section, so that they point in opposite
directions. In yet further configurations (not shown), three or more
side-pointing cameras may be positioned in the cylindrical surface of the
tip section, for example, three cameras having 120 degrees in between
them.

[0091] In configuration 740, a side-pointing camera 744 is pointing
slightly backwards, so that it forms an angle larger than 90 degrees
relative to a front-pointing camera 742. As an example, an angle of 120
degrees is shown. In another configuration (not shown), the angle is
100-145 degrees.

[0092] In configuration 760, two opposing side cameras 764 and 766 are
shown, which are pointing slightly backwards, so that they each form an
angle larger than 90 degrees relative to a front-pointing camera 762. As
an example, an angle of 120 degrees is shown. In another configuration
(not shown), the angle is 100-145 degrees.

[0093] Similarly, in other configurations (not shown), three or more
side-pointing cameras may be positioned in the cylindrical surface of the
tip section, each pointing slightly backwards and having an certain angle
in between; in the case of three cameras, they may have an angle of 120
degrees in between them.

[0094] Reference is now made to FIG. 8, which shows a perspective view of
a multi-camera endoscope, according to some embodiments. Endoscope 800
includes an elongated shaft 802 which typically includes a bending
section (not shown) and a tip section 804 which terminates the endoscope.
Tip section 804 includes three side-pointing cameras 816a, 816b (not
shown) and 816c (not shown). Discrete side illuminators (for example
LEDs), not shown, may be associated with the side-pointing cameras 816a-c
for illuminating their respective fields of view 817a-c. Tip section 804
includes further includes a working channel 812 which may be a hollow
opening configured for insertion of a surgical tool to operate on various
tissues. For example, miniature forceps may be inserted through working
channel 812 in order to remove a polyp or sample of which for biopsy.

[0095] Tip 804 may further include other elements/components, (for
example, as described herein according to various embodiments) such as
fluid injector(s) for cleaning the cameras and/or there illuminators and
pathway fluid injector(s) for inflating and/or cleaning the body cavity
into which endoscope 800 is inserted.

[0096] Reference is now made to FIG. 9, which shows a perspective view of
a multi-camera endoscope, according to some embodiments. Endoscope 900 is
similar to endoscope 800 how ever does not include a working channel.
Elongated shaft 902, tip section 904, side-pointing cameras 916a, 916b
(not shown) and 916c (not shown), and their respective fields of view
917a-c may be similar to elongated shaft 802, tip section 804,
side-pointing cameras 816a, 816b (not shown) and 816c (not shown), and
their respective fields of view 817a-c of endoscope 800.

[0097] While a number of exemplary aspects and embodiments have been
discussed above, those of skill in the art will recognize certain
modifications, permutations, additions and sub-combinations thereof. It
is therefore intended that the following appended claims and claims
hereafter introduced be interpreted to include all such modifications,
permutations, additions and sub-combinations as are within their true
spirit and scope.

[0098] In the description and claims of the application, each of the words
"comprise" "include" and "have", and forms thereof, are not necessarily
limited to members in a list with which the words may be associated.